The busyness of everyday life leaves some essential Christian values chucked to the side. However, values such as forgiveness, compassion, selflessness, and more are all essential for creating a harmonious, progressive society. Though we’re conditioned to do otherwise, it’s important to review and try to reintegrate these values into our day-to-day lives—and it’s never too late to start!
Forgiveness
When someone commits a wrong toward us, we often find it hard to forgive. However, forgiveness and being forgiving are things we must all practice, regardless of whether we’re Christian or not. After all, this can help us let go of our grudges and resentments, allowing love and peace to come into our lives. Ephesians 4:32 reads, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Love for One’s Neighbor
Love for one’s neighbor is one of the most basic Christian teachings known worldwide, but sadly, it’s also one of the most forgotten. In a world full of hate, it’s so easy to just turn your back on other people. However, as God taught us in Leviticus 19:18, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”
Gratitude
Gratitude and being thankful for everything life offers are fundamental values we must all learn. Sadly, we get too caught up in the comparison game, always wanting to have what others have while forgetting to recognize that, at this moment, we already have everything we need. What we must remember, however, is that God always provides for us, even when we don’t see it or feel it. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reads, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Open-Mindedness and Understanding
The world is full of billions of unique people, and if you don’t learn how to be open-minded and understanding of how they’re different from you, then you’ll live a sad and lonely life. Cleveland Clinic explains, “Being open-minded can help us put our differences aside and cooperate to progress as individuals and as a society.” This is echoed by Proverbs 4:7, which reads, “The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom; though it costs all you have, get understanding.” Sadly, many people are selfish—they only look inward instead of looking outward and trying to put themselves in others’ shoes.
Integrity
No matter what stage of life you are in, integrity is crucial in maintaining healthy relationships. Sadly, some people succumb to their wants to be at the top or be successful, so they chuck their integrity to the side—just to get ahead. They employ devious, unfair, and unethical tactics to get what they want, even if it means not acting with integrity. The Bible does not recommend this, as Proverbs 21:3 says, “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
Generosity
Humans are naturally selfish; sadly, some become so selfish that they forget to be generous and share their blessings. In fact, there are studies that show that the poor are more generous and giving to others compared to the rich, who have so much more to give. One must remember that, according to the Bible, those who provide or share their blessings will receive even more blessings in the future. Proverbs 11:24 reads, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.”
Humility
Humility is no longer as apparent today as it was before because of the wrong connotation that humility equals low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. People want to appear as if they’re the best among the rest, and therefore, they forgo any humble bone in their body and replace it with arrogance and showing off. However, truly humble people know it’s the opposite; being humble means having the self-esteem needed to understand that even though you excel at something, you don’t have to boast or brag about it. The Bible says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Faith in Things Unseen
Faith in something means believing even without seeing; this is the same for God’s presence and teachings. Sadly, people today, such as atheists, look for concrete clues and evidence that would prove that God truly is the most divine. However, we must remember that faith in things unseen isn’t the same as blindly believing things to be true. Matthew 22:37 reads, “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
Peacemaking
Today, more than 100 armed conflicts occur worldwide, preventing humanity from ever reaching a state of peace. However, peace is something that all humans crave, especially those who are victims of the wars being fought. Because of this, we, as a community of humans, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, and more, should call for the end of these conflicts, as peace can only prevail when there is no war. Ecclesiastes 3:7-8 reads, “There is a time to tear apart and a time to sew together; there is a time to be silent and a time to speak; there is a time to love and a time to hate; there is a time for war and a time for peace.”
Patience and Self-Control
We live in a world of instant gratification, and we want everything we want to come to us when we want them to. However, the longer we bind ourselves to the need for instant gratification, the more susceptible we are to distractions that will prevent us from doing more meaningful things. Instead of wanting to get things instantly, we need to practice self-control and patience—as it’s said, “Patience is a virtue.” This saying is echoed by Philippians 4:6, which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Justice and Righteousness
The world’s justice system is flawed; it favors the wealthy and the guilty while condemning the poor and innocent. When this happens, people sadly do not fight for what’s right; instead, they argue that the world is not fair. However, justice, righteousness, and fairness are crucial to society’s progress, and everyone should have equal access to them, regardless of their socio-economic class or background. Psalm 89:14 reads, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You.”
Community and Camaraderie
We are called by God to love one another. This means we must have a sense of community and camaraderie, as it’s the only way to feel like we belong—like we are a part of something greater than ourselves. Sadly, today’s world is very individualistic; people are conditioned and trained to think selfishly—only for themselves and their own gain. When you need help in this regard, turn to the Bible and read Ecclesiastes 4:9–11, which says, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil; for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”
Compassion and Charity
When someone commits a wrong, society is so quick to condemn them; we throw people in jail, sentence them to life, and don’t give them a second chance. However, what the world needs is compassion and charity—concern and pity for those suffering and for those who need help to become better individuals and followers of Christ. We should be more like God, who shows compassion to each and every one of us. As Lamentations 3:32 reads, “Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.”
The Sanctity of Marriage and Family
Hebrews 13:4 reads, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” Given this, the moment you say your marriage vows, you commit yourself to your spouse and the family you’ll be building together. Sadly, so many people lose sight of the meaning and sanctity of marriage and why they got married in the first place. According to Forbes, “In 2021, a total of 689,308 divorces occurred across the 45 US states,” and this is just in America; imagine how many more divorces happened in other countries.
Selflessness and Sacrifice
It’s in our nature to be selfish; some even call this inherent selfishness “self-preservation.” We lack empathy, become manipulative, avoid responsibility, act entitled, and more just because we’re conditioned to focus on ourselves. However, this goes against the Bible’s teachings, which push us to be selfless, know when to sacrifice for others, and be compassionate and caring. 1 Corinthians 10:24 reminds us, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”
Honesty
No matter what we do or what stage of life we’re in, we must always be honest with ourselves and those around us. However, we sometimes lie or deceive others to save ourselves because of our need for self-preservation. When you do this, though, you break down the trust you’ve built with others, eventually leaving you alone to fend for yourself in this chaotic world. 2 Corinthians 8:21 tells us, “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.”
Custodianship of God’s Creation
Earth and everything in it is part of God’s creation, and He left it to us not just as a gift but also something we must treasure, care for, and protect. Sadly, humankind is selfish—we take and take and take, even if it’s more than what we need. Because of this, the world God left us is slowly getting destroyed. However, it’s not too late to right our wrongs; when you need advice, read Numbers 35:33-34, which says, “You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it; you shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.”
